Kids love STEM because it gives them space to explore. It feels different from worksheets or timed tests. STEM lets them pick something up, poke it, mix it, flip it over, break it, and ask “what happens if I try this instead?”
As a teacher with more than 15 years in the classroom, I can tell you that kids respond to hands-on learning faster than anything else. You see it in the way their eyes light up when baking soda starts fizzing or a paper airplane flies farther than they expected. They are fully present in the moment.
STEM also gives them a safe place to be wrong. Most parts of school reward correct answers. STEM rewards curiosity. When something fails, that is the start of the lesson, not the end. Watching a student run an experiment a second time because they want a better result is one of the best parts of teaching.
STEM also builds confidence. A child who thinks they are “not good at science” changes their mind quickly when a simple experiment works. It creates momentum. They begin to believe “I can do this.” The more they repeat that feeling, the easier it is for them to take on new challenges.
There is also joy in STEM. Kids love making things move, glow, bubble, launch, spin, and stretch. They love that STEM feels a little bit like magic even though it is grounded in real-world science. When you mix everyday supplies with a good question, something interesting always happens.
If you are teaching at home or in a classroom, you do not need expensive supplies. Some of the best STEM activities use things you already have: paper, tape, baking soda, markers, cups, string, and aluminum foil. What matters is the experience, not the materials.
If you want a few ideas to start with, try the Magic Milk Experiment, Walking Water Rainbow, or DIY Lava Lamp. All three are quick wins that work in almost any setting.
Kids love STEM because it makes learning feel alive. When they get to test, try, explore, and discover, they begin to see themselves as scientists.
That is the real goal.
If you want simple experiments that always work, try my main guide here: